Stone dead !!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
From: Heartland
Stone dead !!
Okay guys, I tried starting my 78 L82 automatic yesterday and it was dead. Got out my multimeter and checked battery----tests perfect. Even though it didn't even make a click sound I purchased a new, reduction 8lb. starter for a 98 Chev 5.7 truck. Fit was great but needed 1/2 inch shorter bolts. I went to the starter first because I have been wanting to replace the old 20lb. hot start behemoth with a more modern efficient one.
Now I have my new starter installed but still no engagement and yes, I checked to see if I had it in park but when I turn the ignition key to start the interior courtesy lights and anything else blinks off.
What's next?..........Alex
Now I have my new starter installed but still no engagement and yes, I checked to see if I had it in park but when I turn the ignition key to start the interior courtesy lights and anything else blinks off.
What's next?..........Alex
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: Maroochydore QLD
You are describing a flat battery pretty well, reading volts on a battery tells you almost nothing, if you have it, test the specific gravity, if not then test the volts at the battery while you try and crank, if they drop below 9VDC while cranking then you most likely have a battery issue, if not then you have a huge short somewhere..........now where is that fire extinguisher?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Check the starter extension harness at the firewall connection. I'll bet the purple wire (and maybe one of the red ones) has melted the connector and the terminals.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Schaumburg Illinois
Do you have any power to the body of the car? Does the dome light come on when you open the door? If not dollars to donuts the problem is in the firewall connection top passenger side. Or a bad fusible link.
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